Naidu questions China UN veto on Masood Azhar
4 April 2016 12:05 AM GMT
Questioning China’s move to block an attempt in the UN to get JeM chief Masood Azhar designated as a terrorist, Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu has said Beijing should understand that “today it is India (which is targeted by terror), tomorrow it may be your turn”.
He also said Pakistan should give up its “old habit” of finding fault with India and stop “aiding and abetting” terrorism so that the two countries can have close ties.
“I do not know the reason why China blocked the proposal to ban Azhar. He is a notorious terrorist and should be banned,” the Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister told reporters here.
“Today it is India, tomorrow it may be your (China) turn,” he added.
India had yesterday slammed China’s virtual veto to prevent the banning of Pathankot terror strike mastermind Azhar, saying it “does not reflect well on the determination that the international community needs to display to decisively defeat the menace of terrorism”.
The statement, however, did not mention China by name.
Asked about claims by Pakistan that there was no evidence with India about its abetment of terror, Naidu said there is enough evidence against the neighbouring country and “they should leave their old habit of finding fault with India”.
“If Pakistan puts a full stop on aiding, abetting, training and funding terrorists, India and Pakistan can come much closer, work together, since both the countries were once one and were separated for reasons,” he said. “India wants to have good relationship with Pakistan,” Naidu said.
He claimed that for the first time in the history of United Nations, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had raised the issue of terrorism and said it was unfortunate that UN was still unable to define terrorism.
The entire world and international community should come together and crush the danger and menace of terrorism, Naidu said.
Naidu, meanwhile, rejected reports that Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had said those unwilling to chant ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ had no right to stay in the country.
“He (Fadnavis) did not say so. I know that. This is wrong information,” he said.
On the fatwa issued by Islamic seminary Darul Uloom Deoband against the ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’ chant, Naidu said it was unfortunate that controversy was being created over nationalistic slogans.
“There is nothing to compel one to say Bharat Mata ki Jai. If somebody says I will not say it, then that is objectionable,” he said.
It is a chant in praise of the motherland, Naidu said, “It does not specifically say if it is a Hindu mother, Christian mother or Muslim mother. India is our motherland and we should be proud of her.
“It is unfortunate that some people are trying to create unnecessary controversy over this.”
‘Hopeful of GST bill passage in this Budget session’
Expressing hope that the Goods and Services Tax bill will be passed in the next half of the Budget session, Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu today said the tax regime will push up India’s economy by 1.5 to 2 percentage points.
Addressing members of the local chapter of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Naidu, who is Minister of Urban Development said the government had tried to pass the bill some months ago, but “some friends”, raised some or other issues.
Stating that he met Congress president Sonia Gandhi and former PM Manmohan Singh over the passage of the bill, Naidu said if it was passed, India’s GDP will go up by 1.5 to 2 percentage points. “We can debate, discuss and decide, but do not disrupt. As government we propose, as opposition you oppose, but together we can dispose,” Naidu said.
Earlier, Naidu inaugurated the Student Facilities Centre at Kumaraguru College of Technology in the city.
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